Monday, May 03, 2010

Tempe lawmakers’ hard work lands bills on governor’s desk

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Tempe’s team of Democratic state lawmakers successfully worked to pass important bills this year ranging from protecting Arizonans from predatory tow truck companies to ensuring that parents have the right to chose which medical professionals can diagnose their children. Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe (District 17), Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe (District 17) and Sen. Meg Burton Cahill, D-Tempe (District 17) each saw their bills move through both legislative chambers this session.

“We each worked together in a bipartisan way to make sure these important bills passed,” Schapira said. “The most essential parts of being state lawmakers are working hard on behalf of our community and representing the values of our constituents.”

District 17 lawmakers’ bills that await the governor’s signature:Schapira · HB 2080 — Helps students with chronic health problems by expanding parents’ choices of health professionals to certify their children need special accommodations to complete their coursework.· HB 2401 — Provides forgiveable loans to students at our state's universities who commit to teach in elementary school districts with teacher shortages.Ableser· HB 2462 — Creates strict measures to work with law enforcement to aggressively crack down on predatory practices and price gouging by the tow truck industry.Burton Cahill· SB 1232 — Conforms Arizona’s civil rights laws with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It is wrong for tow truck businesses to prey on Arizonans parked on private property, and this bill will hold these companies to higher standards,” Ableser said. “As your Tempe lawmakers, we will keep working hard to get Arizona back on track by protecting consumer rights.”

All of the bills passed with bipartisan support.

“We are working to make positive changes and find common sense solutions for the constituents we represent,” Burton Cahill said. “It has made me proud to do that for all the years I have served Tempe and south Scottsdale and I thank the people of District 17 for allowing me to do that.”